What Is It Like To Be a Full-Time Homemaker?

The other day, I met a very nice woman who said something like, "...and so I decided to quit my job." We didn't have time to chat further— and I didn't want to pry— so I was left with a million questions. I would love to hear what life is like for all of you homemakers out there.

Some of the many questions that ran through my mind were:

Do you have a set list of tasks to complete every day/week/month? Did you come up with it on your own or did you and your partner decide together?

Has your partner ever added items to your to-do list? And if you're the employed partner, have you ever wished/requested that your stay-at-home partner would take care of something they don't?

What do you do if you feel there's too much on your plate? And what do employed partners do if the basics are consistently being neglected (dishes/laundry not done)? How do you handle such situations? Is there a boss/employee feel to the discussions?

Does the employed partner express preferences- "I like my clothes hung like this and the table set like this"- and does the homemaker ignore them, take them as friendly suggestions, or always adhere to them?

How do you decide when you're done working for the day? When your partner is done? When your list of tasks is complete? If your partner has a long, grueling week at work, do you take it upon yourself to complete additional projects, or do you stick to your usual workload?

How did your household determine that you would be able to afford for one of you to stay home? Do you have annual meetings to reevaluate your budget?

Do you make-do with less because it's worth it to both of you for one of you to stay home, or are you able to live and save comfortably- or even luxuriously- on just one income?

Do you have a way to make money sporadically, whether to be able to afford emergencies, occasional expenses like holiday gifts, treats for your family, and/or treats for yourself?

Do you have your finances set up in such a way that you are financially independent? (I feel like there are probably some worst-case-scenario stories out there..)

If the stay-at-home partner starts pursuing non-paying interests such as volunteering, training for a triathlon, or learning an instrument, does everyone agree that certain household tasks can be set aside? Or does the employed partner pitch in?

Homemakers, what aspect of staying at home is most challenging to you? I could imagine that monotony, cabin fever, feeling unappreciated, potential lack of financial independence, and other people's judgmental attitudes might all pose challenges.

But let's end on a high note: homemakers, what's your absolute favorite aspect of working in the home? And employed partners, what's the best part of your arrangement?